Richard Wagner

Rienzi, WWV 49: Overture

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) wrote the five-act opera Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen (Rienzi, the Last of the Tribunes), WWV 49, was written in 1840, with a libretto by the composer after Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel of the same name. Set in Rome at the end of the empire, the opera was an immediate and great success following its premiere on October 20, 1842, at the Semperoper Opera House in Dresden, and the opera launched Wagner's career. The Pantomime takes place in Act II, Scene 3, and was intended to tell the tale of the "Rape of Lucretia." The ballet is unique in that Wagner wrote it to be integrated into the action of the opera rather than just have it serve as a diversion for the audience. Although the complete opera is now rarely staged due to its length and stylistic distance from Wagner's later works, the Rienzi Overture remains a popular concert piece. Instrumentation: 3(2nd dPicc).2.2.2+1(CBsn or Srpnt): 4.4.3.1: Timp.Perc(3-4): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set). Reprint edition of the overture's concert version, arranged by Fritz Hoffmann.